There are a handful of things kids need to do consistently to have the best oral health. #1 on that list is tooth brushing.

When looking for a toothpaste for your child, make sure to pick one that is recommended by the American Dental Association as shown on the box and tube. These toothpastes have undergone testing to insure they are safe to use.

If I told you not to try and stop your child from sucking his/her thumb until they were ready, would you be shocked?

Children engage in non-nutritive sucking (pacifiers, thumbs, blankets, etc.) primarily as a comfort. Often, sucking helps them fall asleep more easily. It’s true that non-nutritive sucking can impact growth and alignment of the mouth and teeth. Prolonged sucking creates dental and skeletal changes, including bite problems and defects in the palate that may require orthodontic treatment to reverse. There is also an association between pacifiers and increased acute middle ear infections. These habits do need to be corrected at the right time.

You may know that what you drink can have a major impact on the health of your teeth. But what if I told you that just two weeks of ongoing energy or sports drink consumption will age your child’s teeth by 13 years?

The damage is doubled in a child’s mouth, whose teeth are nearly half the size of adults. When kids consume these drinks, the tooth decay happens more quickly because there is significantly less enamel protecting their teeth.